ALFRED ADLER’S

THEORY

BY -ALI SHERWANI &

YASHAARTH SINGH MUKHERJEE
 THE PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACH

• Adlerians attempt to view the world from the client’s subjective frame of reference.

• How life is in reality is less important than how the individual believes life to be.

• It is not the childhood experiences that are crucial – it is our present interpretation of
these events (our Schema of Apperception).

• Unconscious instincts and our past do not determine our behavior.

 SOCIAL INTEREST

• Adler’s most significant and distinctive concept.

• Refers to an individual’s attitude toward and awareness of being a part of the human
community.

• Embodies a community feeling and emphasizes the client’s positive feelings toward
others in the world.
 SOCIAL INTEREST

• Adler’s most significant and distinctive concept.

• Mental health is measured by the degree to which we successfully share with others
and are concerned with their welfare.

• Happiness and success are largely related to social connectedness.

 INFERIORITY AND SUPERIORITY

Inferiority Feelings

• Are normal

• They are the wellspring of creativity.

• Develop when we are young-characterized by early feelings of hopelessness

 INFERIORITY AND SUPERIORITY

Striving for Superiority (or competency)

• Promote mastery – motivate change
• Enable us to overcome obstacles

Related Complexes if Social Interest is not learned:

• Inferiority Complex
• Superiority Complex
 BIRTH ORDER

A concept that assigns probability

to having a certain set of
experiences based on one’s
position in the family
 BIRTH ORDER

Adler’s five psychological positions:

1) Oldest child– receives more attention, spoiled, center of attention

2) Second of only two– behaves as if in a race, often opposite to first child
3) Middle– often feels squeezed out
4) Youngest– the baby – expects others to care for them
5) Only– does not learn to share or cooperate with other children, learns to deal with
adults
 ENCOURAGEMENT

Encouragement instills self confidence

by expecting clients to assume
responsibility for their lives and
embrace the fact that they can make
changes
 ENCOURAGEMENT

Encouragement is the most powerful method available for changing a person’s beliefs.

• Helps build self-confidence and stimulates courage.

• Discouragement is the basic condition that prevents people from functioning.
• Clients are encouraged to recognize that they have the power to choose and to act
differently.
 CHANGING MISTAKEN GOALS PARENTING

Undue Attention
• Give a child lots of due attention – when the situation allows for the child to be the center
• If a child demands undue attention – when the situation does not allow for attention to be
given – withdraw from and ignore the child

Demonstrating Complete Inadequacy

• Give a child lots of encouragement – you can do it!
• Never do something for a child that they are capable of doing for themselves!
 CHANGING MISTAKEN GOALS PARENTING

Power
• Don’t play the power struggle game – withdraw from the situation – ignore tantrums.
• Give a child a choice between two acceptable alternatives, spell out the consequences of
each choice, and calmly enforce their choice.

Revenge
• This is a very discouraged child – give lots of encouragement at appropriate times.
• Work on building social interest – serve others together – affirm the child’s value and
significance.
THANK YOU